Chamber and committees

In response to feedback from those with lived experience, we have funded the charity, Health in Mind, to establish specialist peer support groups for those affected by historic forced adoption.

The service launched for enquiries in August 2023 and is ready to offer support to mothers, adult adoptees and anyone else impacted by these historic practices. It is person centred, trauma informed and led by those with lived experience. At present, there have not been enough enquiries to create peer support groups. However, peer support is also being offered on an individual basis. Health in Mind, with the guidance of their lived experience advisory group, continue to promote the service and are focusing on the roll out of service information across Scotland.

We encourage people to consider whether this support might be of benefit to them. Further details of the service, volunteer opportunities and the meet the team events are available online: https://health-in-mind.org.uk/how-we-can-help/national-services/historic-adoption-trauma-support-service/

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21579 on 5 October 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Mobile Heat Pump Training Van was launched on 2 August 2023, is accessible to any college in Scotland and is capable of delivering on site training across Scotland, including rural areas.

The facility was at Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) offices in Stirling twice in August to show Colleges from across Scotland the apparatus within the van and explain the booking process. On 28 August South Lanarkshire College delivered the first training in the van to eight heating tradespeople from the plumbing and gas sector who wanted to upskill on heat pumps. At the end of September the training centre was used by the heat pump manufacturer NIBE to provide training to 13 trainers from Scotland’s Colleges to increase the capacity to deliver training.

Throughout September the vehicle has also been made available at events to allow stakeholders to visit the facility and have a demonstration of its heat pump technologies.

Energy Saving Trust is preparing a marketing campaign to promote the training available through the van.

Zoopla published a report titled “ The Cheapest Places to Rent a Home in 2023 ” on 14 September 2023. This report is based on newly advertised rental data and does not include trends in rents for existing tenancies and does not therefore cover trends in rents for the whole private rented sector in Scotland.

This report states that the average monthly advertised rent for 1 to 4 bedroom properties on the open market in Scotland in July 2023, was £748, 64% cheaper than the corresponding rent in London of £2,053.

The report also states that these rents in Scotland increased by 12.7% in the last year to July 2023, very similar to the corresponding increase in London of 12.4% and similar to other regions in England and Wales, with increases of 10% and above in the North West and West Midlands.

The Scottish Government considers that there are a wide range of factors contributing to high increases in private rents in Scotland and across the UK. The Programme for Government confirms the intention to introduce a Housing Bill to deliver a New Deal for Tenants, including the introduction of long-term rent controls for the private rented sector to address large increases in rents both during and between tenancies in Scotland.

The Cost of Living (Tenants Protection) Scotland Act 2022 provides stability of rents for the majority of existing tenants in the private rented sector in Scotland. Since 1 April 2023, rents for tenancies subject to the rent cap can increase by up to 3%, or landlords can apply to Rent Service Scotland for approval of an increase of up to 6% in specific circumstances. Our emergency legislation has led the way at a time when rents have been rising across the UK, stabilising rents to help tenants to stay in their homes. Anywhere else in the UK, private tenants have faced a double impact of unfettered rent rises both during and between tenancies.

Since the introduction of the Low Carbon Skills Grant in 2021 the fund has supported a total of 293 heating and plumbing apprentices to be trained in heat pump installation. The fund has continued to grow in popularity and this is shown by the increase in yearly delivery figures provided in the following table:

It is inappropriate to comment on live proceedings or speculate on any possible outcomes and how they will be managed. The Scottish Government’s response to any challenges to Scotland’s Low Emission Zones will be considered on a case by case basis.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21565 on 4 October 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21563 on 5 October 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

We have commissioned The Lines Between to conduct research on the unmet needs of those people affected by historic forced adoption practices. The research will be published later this year and we will provide an update to Parliament at that time. The research will set out the support that those affected need to assist them on their journey of recovery, including access to records.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering the grade separation of Sheriffhall roundabout as part of its £300 million commitment to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

Following publication of the draft Orders and Environmental Statement, Transport Scotland received a significant number of objections to the proposed scheme. Although Transport Scotland engaged widely with objectors, it was unable to resolve all objections. In view of this, a Public Local Inquiry was held from 31 January to 8 February 2023. As with all trunk road projects this is the appropriate statutory forum for considering objections received and not withdrawn. The independent Reporter is now giving detailed consideration to all evidence before making recommendations to the Scottish Ministers for a decision.

Construction of the proposed scheme can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory authorisation process and thereafter a timetable for its progress can be set.

Additionally, the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) will inform the Scottish Government’s transport investment programme in Scotland over the next 20 years and was published in December 2022. It recommends that the priorities for future investment on the A720 are focused on improving safety, reliability and resilience. The transport appraisal that supported the review did not recommend any further large scale intervention beyond that proposed at Sheriffhall.